Freda was once a booming mining town in the Keweenaw. Located 15 miles west of Houghton, Freda boasted a population of 500 in the early 1910s. Locals were attracted by the Champion Mill, where copper ore extracted in the Champion Mines was processed into ingots for shipping. The mill brought hundreds of people to the town in the early 20th century, leading to the construction of a school, barber shop, church, hotel, and theater. Rails for the Copper Range Railroad even went through the town.
The railroad through Freda was removed in 1971 and the mill was torn down the following year, leading to a near abandonment of the town. Today, Freda is home to only 40 remaining residents, officially labeling it a ghost town. The Champion Mill ruin has become a popular tourist attraction over the past few decades. Information for visitors can be found at visitkeweenaw.com.
